The 10 Best Retirement Activities in North Dakota!

After a lifetime of hard work, retirement is the time to explore new interests and relax. Whether golfing, volunteering, visiting museums, or leisurely hiking, the activities are endless. Check out 10 of the best retirement activities in North Dakota and truly enjoy your post-work days.

Golf is the perfect retirement activity—it’s fun, active, and scenic! The Bully Pulpit Golf Course was ranked as one of the 100 greatest public golf courses in the nation, with pristine meadows and calming woodlands. The 18-hole course is highly rated and the site also has a state-of-the-art practice facility.

Spend a relaxing day sitting on the shores of Lake Sakakawea. The lake is one of the three largest man-made reservoirs in America, with a surface area of 368,000 acres and 178 miles long. The site has a marina, hiking and biking trails, and seasonal sport opportunities like skiing.

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Circle of Friends Humane Society, Grand Forks, ND

Support Grand Fork’s furry friends by volunteering at the Circle of Friends Humane Society. The facility shelters cats, dogs, reptiles, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, rats, and mice. Volunteers are essential for the humane society continuing operations. After completing an orientation session, volunteers work on tasks like making cat toys, shredding paper litter, caring for flowers outside, wiping down windows, breaking up dog treats, making treat bags, carrying donations to our garage, creating decorations for the lobby, handing out flyers for events, changing out trash, general office help, and cleaning bathrooms.

Before becoming one of the state’s most interesting parks, Fort Abraham Lincoln was an essential post for infantry and cavalry and was the fort that Custer led the seventh cavalry from before famously losing to the Sioux at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. The site has historic military building as well as a reconstructed Native American village from the time when the site was occupied from about 1575 to 1781. There are a series of trails at the park that span about seven miles in a series of loops.

The North Dakota State Library is Bismarck is an educational utopia with countless walls of books, historical documents, and educational material. Not only that, but the library also hosts a number of community events for adults and kids alike. Volunteers are an essential part of the library’s continuing function. Get more involved with the library by volunteering your time there.

As the saying goes, the earth without art is just “eh,” so make sure to get some culture in your life now that you have the free time to do so. The Plains Art Museum is the largest art museum in the state and is located conveniently in downtown Fargo. Collections include tradition Native American, modern and contemporary Native American, contemporary, traditional African, modernism and postmodernism, photography and prints, and regional. There are also volunteer opportunities available like guides, greeters, and museum store associates.

Another one of the state’s wonderful art museums, the North Dakota Museum of Art is highly regarded in the art community and contains a large collection of interesting works from artists all around the world. Collections include visual history of the region, contemporary Native American art, international art, and more. If you enjoy art, consider volunteering your time at the museum in positions like gallery attendant, shop attendant, museum facility maintenance, museum garden maintenance, administration, or special events.

Regarded as one of the best parks in the Midwest, Theodore Roosevelt National Park has an otherworldly rugged landscape that is hard to find outside North Dakota. Visit some of the park’s best sites like Painted Canyon, Maltese Cross Ranch Cabin, Prairie Dog Town, the 36-mile Scenic Loop Drive, Elkhorn Ranch Site, and Oxbow Overlook which shows a wide view of the unique Badlands formations and the Little Missouri River. Keep an eye out for some park wildlife like the famous bison and prairie dogs!

King’s Walk Golf Course is situated in a unique prairie environment that golfers will find rewarding. The course features mounds, deep ravines, steep ridges, and two large lakes. In addition to the unbeatable golf course, the course also has a practice facility with a driving range, target greens, and putting and chipping greens. Golfing at such an esteemed course is a wonderful way to get some exercise and spend an enjoyable afternoon!

The Central Dakota Humane Society serves the Bismarck and Mandan area and is a no-kill shelter. This shelter takes exceptional care of all the dogs and cats and works tirelessly to find them new forever homes. Their invaluable work for the community is done largely by volunteers. Volunteer at the humane society to give back to community during your retirement. Volunteer positions include critter companion, foster care, special events volunteer, and special resources volunteer. No matter your skills, the Central Dakota Humane Society values all volunteers time and work!